Timeline

== 1671
Jacob Fiana, the first known Jewish settler arrives at Appoquinimink Creek, which later becomes Wilmington, DE. He signs his land title with the Jewish star.

== 1737
Jewish settlements begin in Philadelphia with the arrival of a prosperous merchant named Nathan Levy from New York City and his brother Issac. Levy is regarded as the founder of Philadelphia Jewry. The Levy firm sells textiles, nails, metals ammunition as well as beer and liquor.

== 1740
Nathan Levy establishes the first Jewish burial ground on Spruce Street between Eighth and Ninth Streets. The historical ground is known today as Mikveh Israel "the Hope of Israel" Cemetery.

== 1775
300 Jews reside in Philadelphia.

== 1782
The first Mikveh Israel synagogue ( 30 X 36 feet) is erected on the north side of Cherry Alley between third and Sterling. The official dedication takes place on September 13.

== 1802
A group of Jews who migrate to Philadelphia do not want to adhere to the authority of Mikveh Israel so they form their own congregation, which they name Rodeph Shalom. It is the first Ashkenazic congregation to be created in the Western Hemisphere.

== 1819
Rebecca Gratz, Mrs. Aaron Levy and Hannah Levy form the Female Hebrew Benevolent Society.

== 1822
A group of men resistant to Mikveh Israel's exclusion of men who were married to non-Jews created the United Hebrew Beneficent Society, with membership open to all Jews.

== 1838
German-born Issac Leeser inspires Rebecca Gratz to establish the first Hebrew Sunday school in the United States.

Issac Leeser

== 1843
Issac Leeser founds the Occident and American Jewish Advocate, the nation's first English-Jewish publication. In addition, he fosters a number of "firsts" in American Jewish life. (1837) Leeser pens the first American edition of the Sephardic prayer book. (1838) Leeser writes the first American Hebrew primer for children. (1845) Leeser establishes the first American Jewish publication.

== 1850
Jewish merchants from Philadelphia and Baltimore begin to arrive in Wilmington, DE to establish businesses.

The Mercantile Club

== 1853
The Mercantile Club, an elite Jewish social club, opens for business.

== 1854
The first Jewish elementary school house opens.

== 1855
Rebecca Gratz helps establish the Jewish Foster Home and Orphan Asylum.

== 1860
Approximately 8,000 Jews reside in Philadelphia.

== 1865
Jewish Hospital opens its doors in west Philadelphia.

== 1867
Issac Leesers presides over Maimonides College, the first rabbinical school in America. It is also the first Jewish theological seminary in the country. It produces several rabbis, the first to be trained and educated in the United States.

== 1873
Jewish Hospital moves to Broad Street and Olney Avenue and later becomes Einstein Medical Center.

== The Moses Montefiore Society, Wilmington, Delaware’s first Jewish organization, is established to offer religious guidance and charitable assistance to members of the growing Jewish community.

== 1882
Siegmund Lubin, the first movie mogul, and his wife settle in Philadelphia and open an optical store at 237 North Eighth Street.

== B'nai Abraham is founded at 6th and Lombard.

== The first Yiddish plays are presented at the Germania Theater at 532 North 3rd Street.

== 1885
The Hebrew Literary Society is founded at Third and Catherine Streets.

== 1886
Issac Leeser introduces the Conservative Judaic movement to Philadelphia Jews. Later, Solomon Schechter, a prominent figure in Philadelphia Jewish history, helps the movement flourish during the twentieth century.

== 1887
The Jewish Exponent newspaper begins publication.

== The Yiddish Theater, Philadelphia's first playhouse dedicated exclusively to Yiddish theatrical productions, opens its doors at 511 South 5th Street.

== 1888
The Jewish Publication Society is founded to introduce Jewish literature to an English-reading American public.

Beth Israel Temple

== 1890
Beth Israel Temple or "Garton Road Synagogue" a tiny one-room shul opens its doors for worship in Rosenhayn, NJ.

== 1891
The Hebrew Education Society erects Touro Hall, in memory of the New Orleans philanthropist who bequeathed $20,000 to the society in his will of 1854. With 1345 children in its Hebrew classes, 919 in an English department and 164 in a cigar-makers trade-school, Touro Hall is the busiest building in Philadelphia Jewish Life.

== 1892
The American Jewish Historical Society is founded.

== 1893
Samuel and Jacob Lit open Lit Brothers department store at Eight and Market Streets.

== 1894
The seven sons of Adam Gimbel, a Bavarian immigrant, open Gimbels department store at Eighth and Markets Streets.

Nathan Snellenberg establishes "Snellenburgs" on the southeast corner of Twelfth and Market Streets.

== 1898
Gratz College is established with funds provided by Hyman Gratz. Its first classes are held in Touro Hall.

== Adas Kodesh, establishes the first synagogue building on French Street in Wilmington, DE.

== 1900
Mt. Sinai Hospital is founded to serve the immense population in South Philadelphia.

== 1901
The Federation of Jewish Charities is organized at Mercantile Hall at Broad and Master Streets to assist an influx of Eastern European immigrants arriving in Philadelphia. It is formed through the merger of a number of societies including, the United Hebrew Charities. Joseph Gimbel of the department store family is the Federation's first president.

== 1903
The Hebrew Sheltering Home and Day Nursery is founded at 510 North 4th Street to care for helpless infants, unmarried mothers and their babies.

The Philmont Country club

== 1907

The Philmont Country club opens as an exclusive Jewish retreat.

== Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning is founded as a graduate school.

== 1920
The Locust Club, a social gathering hub where Philadelphia's Jewish industrialists meet, opens for business on Locust Street between 16th and 17th Streets.

== Several synagogues exist in the city of Camden, New Jersey. They include: Congregation Beth El; Congregation Beth Israel; Ahav Zedak; and the Sons of Israel Congregation.

== 1922
A group of 29 men and women found the Federation of Jewish Charities to serve and assist Jews in the city of Camden. It would later become known as the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey.

1924
The Immigration Act of 1924 is passed to stem the massive tide of immigration that has been flowing into the United States since the mid-19th century.

== 1926
The Jewish Times begins publication.

== 1937
Leo H. Heimerdinger and Kurt Peiser form the Allied Jewish Appeal to discharge local health and welfare assistance to Jews, to meet the growing overseas rescue needs and other services for the survival of Jewish life at home and abroad.

== 1939
The Philadelphia Anti-Defamation Council is formed to combat Anti Semitic attacks against Jews in Philadelphia.

== 1943
Philadelphia rabbis and laymen found the American Council for Judaism.

== 1948
Israel becomes an independent state.

==1950
The Jewish population reaches 80,000 in the city of Philadelphia, making it the eight largest Jewish area in the country.

== 1956
The Federation of Jewish Charities merges with the Allied Jewish Appeal creating the Jewish Federation of Jewish Agencies to serve the needs of Jews locally, nationally, overseas and in Israel.

Beth Shalom synagogue

== 1959
Beth Shalom opens at 8231 Old York Road. It is the only synagogue designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

== 1964
"The Monument to the Six Million Jewish Martyrs" memorial is erected at 16th & Arch and JFK Blvd to commemorate the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

== 1965
A group know as "The Greater Philadelphia Committee To Protest Soviet Anti-Semitism" holds one of the first Philadelphia rallies for Soviet Jewry at Independence Square. 5,000 people attend.

== 1970
The Jewish population in Pennsylvania is concentrated in the Center City, Greater Northeast, Old York Road Suburban, West Oak Lane, Wynnefield and Main Line sections.

== 1982
Beth Solomon Suburban, a synagogue for Russian Jews, is founded. It's the last synagogue built in Philadelphia during the 20th century.

== 1984
The Jewish Population Study of Greater Philadelphia finds that there are 250,000 Jews living in 100,000 households in the five-county Greater Philadelphia area. There are also 94 synagogues; 40 Conservative, 2 modern Orthodox, 18 Orthodox, 19 Reform, 5 Reconstructionist, 1 Progressive, 3 Sephardi and 6 Traditional.

== 1990
The Federation of Jewish Charities adopts the name Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.

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